แสง
sɛ̌ɛng/sɛːŋ˩˩˦/
The Thai word for light is แสง (sɛ̌ɛng).
แสง is a noun used to refer to light as a physical phenomenon or electromagnetic radiation. If you want to specify the source of the light, you can use compound words: แสงแดด for sunlight or แสงไฟ for artificial or lamp light.
Meaning: visible light, brightness (noun)
Which one should you use?
แสง is the noun for the physical phenomenon of light. In contrast, แสงสว่าง is used to refer to the brightness or the general presence of light in an environment. Additionally, while แสง is the noun, สว่าง is the adjective used to describe a place or object as being bright or well-lit.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sɛ̌ɛng. The IPA is /sɛːŋ˩˩˦/.
Did you know?
- The term แสง is used in Thai to describe the 'aura' or 'glow' surrounding a holy person in Buddhist iconography.
- The Thai word for light can be traced back to the Old Khmer word សេង៑ (seṅ), meaning 'to carry on the shoulder'.
- The word แสง appears in the names of several traditional Thai arts and poetic descriptions of the dawn.
Examples in context
- น้ำสะท้อนแสงWater reflects light.This sentence is useful for demonstrating how water reflects แสง.Tatoeba #8717349 by pastelite, translation #270802 by CK
- พืชทุกชนิดต้องการน้ำและแสงสว่างAll plants need water and light.This sentence shows that plants require both water and แสง.Tatoeba #8718049 by pastelite, translation #268570 by CK
- ห้องนี้แสงไม่พอThis room does not have enough light.This sentence describes a room that lacks sufficient แสง.
- แสงของดวงอาทิตย์สว่างและเป็นประโยชน์ต่อมนุษย์Sunlight is bright and beneficial for humans.
- หลอดไฟในห้องนี้สามารถสร้างแสงสว่างได้มากThe light bulbs in this room can create bright light.
Example conversation
Witthawat and Nicha are talking about the brightness in the room.
- วิทวัส Witthawatแสงในห้องนี้จ้าเกินไปsaeng nai hong ni ja koen paiThe light in this room is too bright.
- ณิชา Nichaงั้นลองปิดม่านดูสิngan long pid man du siThen try closing the curtains.
- วิทวัส Witthawatปิดแล้วแสงลดลงเยอะเลยpid laeo saeng lot long yoe loeiNow that they're closed, the light has decreased a lot.
- ณิชา Nichaแบบนี้ค่อยดูดีหน่อยbaep ni khoi du di noiThis looks much better.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “light” translations and entries แสง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries แสง, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
